While we were there soaking in the Spanish sunshine one of my friends and ex-teammates told us a story that warms the soul while simultaneously feels like a dream come true story for many football fans.When I was moving to Barcelona straight out of college, in what the general manager Alex Grande recalls as a young man’s mindset, I was focused on what number I would be wearing. Knowing that the starting outside linebacker, Rafa Todoli, wore #2 it was in my ambition to find a way to persuade for him to allow me to wear the number. In Spain it is uncommon for American football gear to be readily available to the players, so I offered to bring Rafa a fresh pair of Nike Speed TD cleats for the season in a swap for the #2. He gladly accepted, we became great friends, I played great in that jersey and he played better in those cleats, and what’s more we both looked great.
Upon visiting Rafa this past week he told me a fascinating story that involves one of the most highly known names in the world of American Football, Mark Sanchez. Last summer as Sanchez was visiting the great Catalan capitol he was introduced to Rafa through an indirect line of friends. Rafa was told by an import friend of his that he was in the “W” hotel, a gorgeous seaside resort that dominates the skyline of Bcn. He asked why his friend was at this hotel, and the reply was that he was with Mark Sanchez. Rafa remembers, “This is Spain, Mark is a common name, Sanchez is a common name, so why is this an important detail.”
He quickly learned why this detail was obviously important. Rafa had a lot of connections to the night life of Barcelona and was able to show the group of visitors around town. By the end of the night Rafa had developed a relationship with Mark and offered Rafa the chance to fly to New York and to watch the Jets at home during the NFL regular season.Rafa knew that he had been blessed with the amazing chance of a lifetime, but what he didn’t know was how special of a person he had met in Mark Sanchez. When he gave the details about when he was available to fly to New York Marks assistant notified him that Mark was going to cover the entire cost of the trip, having Rafa stay at his place in the city. Rafa was able to attend a practice, tour through New York City, view two live NFL games. When Rafa got to the stadium for gameday he knocked on the door of the private Sanchez family box and was welcomed with excitement from Mark’s family. During the incredible vacation he attended the Thanksgiving dinner of the family as well as watching the Jets play the Titans and Bengals. Rafa now receives gear from the Jets when he needs it, and after telling me this story he said, "if you ever want #2 again it is going to cost more than a pair of cleats."
What I loved most from this story was the fact that a high profiled athlete put another person in front of themselves and showed compassion for someone they hardly knew, a story while it does happen is rarely told. Congrats to Mark Sanchez, God shines through you.
